SOC 19-1029 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Biological Scientists, All Other — Tennessee
Tennessee · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $80,500 a year, trailing the national median of $98,920 by 18.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $80,500 a year, trailing the national median of $98,920 by 18.6%. Half of workers earn between $61,460 and $96,950. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $44,070 and the ninetieth at $109,300.
The area has 420 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.35 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 50 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 39th by median wage. Memphis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $86,380. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 147th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,070 | −55.4% |
| 25th | $61,460 | −37.9% |
| Median (50th) | $80,500 | −18.6% |
| 75th | $96,950 | −2.0% |
| 90th | $109,300 | +10.5% |
| Mean | $80,070 | −19.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $80,500 goes as far as $87,595 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.4% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$80,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$87,595US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $80,500 a year, 18.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,070 to $109,300 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 420 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 39th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Memphis, at $86,380.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Biological Scientists, All Other in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $80,500, or $38.70 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $98,920, so pay in Tennessee is 18.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $109,300 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,070 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Memphis, at $86,380 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 420 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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